Monday, January 23, 2006

RAINIER -- A second student has appealed his expulsion over a December incident involving pellet guns at Rainier High School.

Two appeal cases will now be heard by the Rainier School Board on Feb. 8. The first hearing starts at 6:30 p.m., and the second at 8 p.m.

At last Wednesday's board meeting, Superintendent Michael Carter told the board that only one appeal has been filed and that the window of opportunity for filing appeals had closed.

He also said that if any late appeal requests were filed, he would turn them over to the school district's attorney.... (For full article please refer to original article)

It is not yet known whether the families will allow the hearings to be held in open public session or if they will request a closed executive session.

Because the total number of weapon expulsions at Rainier High School stands at five, the chance of one or both of the expulsions being overturned could make a difference in the school's standing with the Oregon Department of Education.

A student was expelled this fall for having a knife on school grounds. Four more students were expelled over the Dec. 6 incident involving airsoft pellet guns.

With five weapon expulsions, Rainier could be put on a watch list for dangerous schools when the school's suspensions and expulsions are reported to the ODE.